Bellringer

ABSTRACT

A two-piece housing received in a stem receives a ported valve body with first valve seat therein, and a plunger with second valve seat therein. A spring-loaded valve member has two spheres thereon for closing one or the other seat for the power and return strokes of the plunger, with appropriate porting for plunger force and timing control.

United States Patent [56] References Citedl UNITED STATES PATENTS [72] Inventor Char1es.l.Eberle RR. 15, Box 148, Lafayette, 1nd. 47905 830,781

Wv. "k S u mm ra mM m Cu 3 P w m m m E m M 371 ,636 384,095 6/1888 Snow...... 449,904 4/1891 [21] Appl. No. {22] Filed June 5, 1969 [45] Patented July 20, 1971 n m h g u a N d n a m d r a h m E l r a l d r a d 0 m m r m t A 91 /273, ABSTRACT: A two-piece housing received in a stern receives 91/342, 91/344 :1 ported valve body with first valve seat therein, and a plunger F011 15/16, with second valve seat therein. A spring-loaded valve member has two spheres thereon for closing one or the other seat for [50] Field of 91/234, the power and return strokes of the plunger, with appropriate 346, 341, 273, 342, 344 porting for plunger force and timing control.

PATENTED JUL 2 01971 SHEET 1 BF 2 NVENTOR CHAEZLED EBEZLE BY Mum MUMEM Wh m SHEET 2 OF 2 PATENTED JUL20 197:

INVENTOR CHARLES EBEELE. BY 35540,; uJMfMLWAr YL m Aorneys BELLRINGER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to fluid actuators, and more particularly to a pneumatic astable actuator assembly comprising a bellringer for locomotive bells and the like.

2. Description ofthe Prior Art Several types of bellringers are known. Those which seem to be in most widespread use are of the type known as model BR-l06 marketed by The Prime Manufacturing Co. of 1669 South First Street, Milwaukee 4, Wisconsin. Such apparatus is the subject matter of U.S. Pat. No. 2,739,570.

Another bellringer is an assembly known as part No. 8095868 marketed by the ElectroMotive Division, General Motors Corporation, La Grange, Illinois.

Problems encountered with prior art bellringers can very often be traced to foreign matter in fluid flow passageways. This can be dirt or ice, for example. It is an object of the present invention to provide a bellringer having minimal susceptibility to malfunction from dirt or other causes, and which can be readily repaired in the event of any malfunction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Described briefly, in a typical embodiment of the present invention, a plunger is provided with a valve seat normally closed by one valve when the ringer is at rest. The housing is provided with another seat normally open when the ringer is at rest. Application of air pressure to the ringer causes extension ofa plunger, opening of the one valve seat and closure of the other, to terminate application of pressure to the plunger and permit return thereof to starting position. Tolerances on the valve parts can be comparatively large, with the possibility of only one critical port for timing and power control and readily accessible for service.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a cross section through a bell installation showing the environment for the particular type of bellringer disclosed in this application.

FIG. 2 is a large longitudinal section through a preferred embodiment of the bellringer of FIG. ll, showing it in the rest position wherein the clapper lug 22 (FIG. 1) hold the plunger up, prior to the power stroke.

FIG. 3 is a section like FIG. 2, but on a smaller scale and showing the parts at the end of the power stroke.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in detail, the bell 11 is mounted to the locomotive frame 12 by a suitable stem 13 receiving the nuts 14 and I6 thereon, an air supply from the locomotive pneumatic system being provided through the supply line 117. A clevis 18 is tlireadedly received on the lower end of the stem and has a pin 19 therein serving as a pivotal mounting for the clapper 21 having an operating lug 22 thereon disposed immediately below the lower end 23 of the bellringer plunger. The weight of the clapper, and particularly the ball 24 at the lower end thereof, normally disposes it in the position shown, operation of the ringer serving to drive it in the direction of the arrow 26 to engage the bell in the usual conventional fashion.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the clevis has a flange 27 at the lower face thereof serving to engage the lower face of plunger housing 28 having a pair of annular grooves therein receiving O-rings 29 sealing against the cylindrical bore of the stem 13. An upper housing 31 is received on the upper face of the lower housing and has O-ring 32 in the annular groove thereof sealing against the bore of the stem.

A plunger 33 is received in the plunger housing and has a flange 34 thereon with annular groove 36 therein sealing against the cylindrical wall of the chamber 37 defined in part by the plunger housing 28. The upper housing has a spring seat member 38 therein having the flange 39 with another annular groove therein receiving an O-ring 41 providing a seal against the cylindrical wall 42 of the upper housing. A valve body 43 is threadedly received in the spring seat member 38, and it also has an annular groove receiving an O-ring 44 therein sealing against the upper housing inner cylindrical wall 42.

The spring seat member 38 is located against the shoulder 46 of the upper housing and the shoulder 47 of the spring seat member serves to locate the valve body 43 therein. The pin 48 received in a bore in the upper housing wall serves as a locator for the lower face of the flange 39 of the spring seat member whereby the latter, together with the valve body, valve and spring are retained in a subassembly with the upper housing.

The valve member 49 has two spheres SI and S2 thereon. The lower sphere or ball 52 is engageable with the conical seat 53 in the plunger 33, while the upper ball is engageable with the ring seat 54 in the valve body 43. The upper and lower balls are fairly loosely guided in the bores 55 and 56 of the valve body and flange, respectively. The spring 57 normally urges the valve member downwardly toward the seated condition ofthe upper ball on the valve body as shown in FIG. 3.

Suitable porting is provided in the various components to facilitate the operation which will now be described.

OPERATION Normally, with the clapper at rest in the position shown in FIG. l, the operating lug 22 thereof holds the plunger 33 in a position wherein the flange 34 there-of is spaced above the shoulder St in the lower housing 28. At this time, the spring 57 is compressed and holds the ball 5.2 firmly on the seat 53. The valve ball Sll is separated from the seat 54.

Admission of air from the locomotive supply through a bell control valve (not shown) and thereby through the center of the stem in the direction of arrow 61 supplies air downwardly through the annular space 62 between the inner wall of the stem and the outer wall of the upper housing. The air continues downwardly through the feed groove 63 and port 64 to the interior of the upper housing. From there it is admitted through the circular array of circular ports 66 in the valve housing and downward through the open seat 54 around the valve shaft 49 and out through the second circular array of circular ports 67 in the lower portion of the valve body. The air thus admitted under pressure to the chamber 37 above the plunger urges it downwardly against the resistance of the weight of the clapper. Although a certain amount of air is able to pass through the passageway 68 in the lower valve to the passageway 69 and port 71, the size of port 71 is such that the bleeding of air at this location is small compared to the rate of supply to the chamber 37. Accordingly the plunger is driven downwardly causing the clapper to strike the bell.

At some point in the descent of the plunger, and prior to encounter of the shoulder 58 by the plunger flange 34, the upper valve 51 will seat in the valve body and terminate admission of air to the chamber 37. The clapper can then begin its return as the air pressure in chamber 37 dissipates through the ports 68 and 7t and around the side of the ball 52. When the clapper has returned far enough that the seat 53 has risen to again meet the ball 52, subsequent return of the clapper will reopen the valve 51 to again admit high pressure air to the chamber 38 and initiate another power stroke. The foregoing sequence of events will continue so long as the bellringer air supply valve remains open. The combination of the sizes of the choke port 64, port 68, and port 71, the supply line pressure, the mo ment arm and weight of the clapper, and the stroke of the plunger, detennine the cadence and force with which the bell is rung. Of these, the port 711, being exposed, lends itself readily to servicing in the unlikely event it should become impeded by foreign matter.

Because of the fact that comparatively loose fits can be provided between the various parts, includling the plunger and the housing, the valves and their guide bores, and the valve shaft and the valve body, there is minimal opportunity for foreign matter to interfere with operation of the moving parts. Moreover, because the various ports can be made of ample size and, because of the simplicity of the valve structure and seating arrangement, there is minimal opportunity for interference with valve operation by foreign matter. 1

Materials typically employed throughout can be brass, for example, with a steel valve spring and synthetic rubber rings. it will be noted that there is a port 72 at the upper end of the housing 31. This has no function in the operation of the device, but does permit escape of air from above the spring retainer member 38 during assembly thereof into the housing.

The invention I claim is: 1. An actuator assembly comprising: .a fluid supply port;

a power output plunger; valve means including a first normally open valve admitting fluid from said port to said plunger to drive said plunger in a power applying direction, and said valve means further including; a second valve normally closed, and controlling passage of admitted fluid to a vent; said valve means being arranged to close said first valve and open said second valve in response to a predetermined extent of movement of said plunger in said power applying direction; a spring normally urging said first valve toward closed condition; and a bell clapper normally retaining said first valve in open condition. 2. An actuator assembly comprising: a fluid supply port; a power output plunger; valve means including a first normally open valve admitting fluid from said port to said plunger to drive said plunger in a power applying direction, and said valve means further including; a second valve normally closed, and controlling passage of admitted fluid to a vent; said valve means being arranged to close said first valve and open said second valve in response to a predetermined extent of movement of said plunger in said power applying direction; said valve means includes first and second spheres on a shaft, and a seat in said plunger for said second sphere. 3. The assembly ofclaim 2 wherein: said seat in said plunger supports said second sphere during movement of said plunger in said power applying direction. 4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein: said valve means include a first valve seat .for said first sphere, said first seat being disposed in the path of movement of said first sphere in said one direction and terminating said movement to thereby establish said predetermined extent of movement and separate said second sphere from said seat in said plunger. 5. An actuator assembly comprising: a fluid supply port;

a power output plunger;

valve means including a first normally open valve admitting fluid from said port to said plunger to drive said plunger in a power applying direction, and said valve means further including;

a second valve normally closed, and controlling passage of admitted fluid to a vent;

said valve means being arranged to close said first valve and open said second valve in response to a predetermined extent of movement of said plunger in said powerapplying direction;

said second valve includes a sphere and a seat therefor in said plunger;

said sphere having a bleed passageway therethrough bypassing said seat and permitting controlled flow offluid from sai port to said vent whi e said second valve IS closed.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein:

said vent is located in said plunger and communicates with i said bleed passageway through a passageway in said. plunger.

7. The assembly of claim 6 and further comprising:

a stem having said port therein communicating with an elongated bore;

an upper housing received in said bore and having a valve body retainer therein;

a valve body secured to said retainer;

a lower housing received in said bore and having a plunger guidingly received therein;

resilient seals on said upper housings and sealing said hous-' ings to said bore and accommodating removal of said housings unitarily from said bore;

a clapper yoke normally retaining said housings in said bore;

a clapper pivotally mounted to said yoke and normally retaining said plunger in a start position;

resilient seals sealing said valve body and said plunger to bores in said upper and lower housings respectively;

a first sphere in said first valve;

a valve shaft connected to said spheres;

a spring in said valve body retainer and normally engaging said first sphere and urging said sphere of said second valve onto said seat in said plunger;

a first seat in said valve body, for said first sphere and in the path of movement of said first sphere toward said plunger;

said spheres being guidingly received in bores in said valve body and plunger respectively and each sphere accommodating free passage of fluid between itself and the guiding bore therefor except when seated;

said housings, valve body, plunger, and the resilient seals thereon, and said sphere of said second valve on said seat therefor, cooperating to provide a pressurizable chamber above said plunger for linearly driving said plunger and thereby pivoting said clapper.

8. The combination of claim 7 and further comprising:

a bell receiving said stem and clapper, and engageable by said clapper upon linear drive of said piston by pressure applied to said chamber. 

1. An actuator assembly comprising: a fluid supply port; a power output plunger; valve means including a first normally open valve admitting fluid from said port to said plunger to drive said plunger in a power applying direction, and said valve means further including; a second valve normally closed, and controlling passage of admitted fluid to a vent; said valve means being arranged to close said first valve and open said second valve in response to a predetermined extent of movement of said plunger in said power applying direction; a spring normally urging said first valve toward closed condition; and a bell clapper normally retaining said first valve in open condition.
 2. An actuator assembly comprising: a fluid supply port; a power output plunger; valve means including a first normally open valve admitting fluid from said port to said plunger to drive said plunger in a power applying direction, and said valve means further including; a second valve normally closed, and controlling passage of admitted fluid to a vent; said valve means being arranged to close said first valve and open said second valve in response to a predetermined extent of movement of said plunger in said power applying direction; said valve means includes first and second spheres on a shaft, and a seat in said plunger for said second sphere.
 3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein: said seat in said plunger supports said second sphere during movement of said plunger in said power applying direction.
 4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein: said valve means include a first valve seat for said first sphere, said first seat being disposed in the path of movement of said first sphere in said one direction and terminating said movement to thereby establish said predetermined extent of movement and separate said second sphere from said seat in said plunger.
 5. An actuator assembly comprising: a fluid supply port; a power output plunger; valve means including a first normally open valve admitting fluid from said port to said plunger to drive said plunger in a power applying direction, and said valve means further including; a second valve normally closed, and controlling passage of admitted fluid to a vent; said valve means being arranged to close said first valve and open said second valve in response to a predetermined extent of movement of said plUnger in said power applying direction; said second valve includes a sphere and a seat therefor in said plunger; said sphere having a bleed passageway therethrough bypassing said seat and permitting controlled flow of fluid from said port to said vent while said second valve is closed.
 6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein: said vent is located in said plunger and communicates with said bleed passageway through a passageway in said plunger.
 7. The assembly of claim 6 and further comprising: a stem having said port therein communicating with an elongated bore; an upper housing received in said bore and having a valve body retainer therein; a valve body secured to said retainer; a lower housing received in said bore and having a plunger guidingly received therein; resilient seals on said upper housings and sealing said housings to said bore and accommodating removal of said housings unitarily from said bore; a clapper yoke normally retaining said housings in said bore; a clapper pivotally mounted to said yoke and normally retaining said plunger in a start position; resilient seals sealing said valve body and said plunger to bores in said upper and lower housings respectively; a first sphere in said first valve; a valve shaft connected to said spheres; a spring in said valve body retainer and normally engaging said first sphere and urging said sphere of said second valve onto said seat in said plunger; a first seat in said valve body, for said first sphere and in the path of movement of said first sphere toward said plunger; said spheres being guidingly received in bores in said valve body and plunger respectively and each sphere accommodating free passage of fluid between itself and the guiding bore therefor except when seated; said housings, valve body, plunger, and the resilient seals thereon, and said sphere of said second valve on said seat therefor, cooperating to provide a pressurizable chamber above said plunger for linearly driving said plunger and thereby pivoting said clapper.
 8. The combination of claim 7 and further comprising: a bell receiving said stem and clapper, and engageable by said clapper upon linear drive of said piston by pressure applied to said chamber. 